Diving plane

Abstract

An underwater diving plane towed by a boat and ridden by a diver includes a longitudinal diver support member which supports the diver in the prone position, a lateral wing support member with contoured wings attached at the ends thereof and evenly spaced from the center thereof, a pivotal attachment fitting for attaching the front end of the diver support member to the center of the lateral wing support member and one or more control arms that are rigidly attached to the lateral wing support member and that extend therefrom below the diver support member so as to be within easy reach of the diver carried thereon in the prone position, whereby the diver may rotate the lateral wing support member within the pivotal attachment fitting on its lateral axis with respect to the diver support member, thereby controlling the diving angle of the diving plane as it is towed through the water by a tow line attached to the pivotal fitting.

I claim: 
     
       1. An underwater towed diving plane ridden by a diver that includes wings controlled by the diver for controlling the diving angle of the plane as it is towed through water comprising, (a) a pair of wings,   (b) a longitudinal diver support member for supporting the diver in the prone position,   (c) a lateral wing support bar to which said wings are rigidly attached at the ends thereof, evenly spaced from the center of said bar,   (d) a pivot fitting that pivotally fits said bar at the center thereof and to which the front end of said longitudinal diver support member is rigidly attached and   (e) a diving control lever rigidly attached to said bar for rotating said bar about its axis with respect to said longitudinal diver support member to control the diving angle of said diving plane.   
     
     
       2. A diving plane as in claim 1 wherein, (a) said diving control lever attaches rigidly to said bar at points on both sides of said bar center.   
     
     
       3. A diving plane as in claim 2 wherein, (a) said diving control lever attaches to said bar at two points that are equidistant from said bar center and said attachments are connected at their extending ends.   
     
     
       4. A diving plane as in claim 1 wherein, (a) said longitudinal diver support member supports the diver under his armpits and across his chest, so that he can readily manipulate said diving control lever from below said longitudinal support member to control diving angle.   
     
     
       5. A diving plane as in claim 1 wherein, (a) means are provided for attaching a tow line to said pivot fitting and   (b) means are provided for quickly releasing said tow line from said tow line attachment,   (c) said releasing means being easily within the reach of said diver while supported on said longitudinal diver support member.   
     
     
       6. A diving plane as in claim 5 wherein, (a) said means for attaching a tow line to said pivot fitting includes an open slot of which the opening faces generally upward and   (b) said means for quickly releasing said tow line from said slot includes means for closing said slot opening,   (c) said releasing means being easily within the reach of said diver while supported on said longitudinal diver support member.   
     
     
       7. A diving plane as in claim 6 wherein, (a) said means for closing said slot opening includes a pin and   (b) said pin is so located with respect to said longitudinal diver support member that when properly supporting the diver under his armpits and across his chest with his arms free and extending downward, he can readily manipulate said pin to release said tow line.   
     
     
       8. A diving plane as in claim 1 wherein, (a) relatively highly buoyant bodies are attached to said bar at several positions therealong so as to distribute the buoyant forces thereof evenly on both sides of said bar to said diving plane,   (b) whereby said diving plane is sufficiently buoyant to float at the surface of the water.   
     
     
       9. A diving plane as in claim 8 wherein, (a) said buoyant bodies fit on said bar at said several positions therealong which are between said pivot fitting and said diving control lever rigid attachments thereto and between said rigid attachments and said wings attached at the ends of said bar.   
     
     
       10. A diving plane as in claim 9 wherein, (a) said buoyant bodies are cylindrical in shape and have an axial hole therethrough whereby each body fits on said bar coaxial therewith.   
     
     
       11. An underwater towed diving plane ridden by a diver that includes wings controlled by the diver for controlling the diving angle of the plane as it is towed through water comprising, (a) a pair of wings,   (b) a longitudinal diver support member for supporting the diver in the prone position,   (c) a lateral assembly including a unitary lateral structural support bar coaxial within said lateral assembly to which said wings attach at the ends thereof, evenly spaced from the center of said lateral assembly,   (d) a pivot fitting at the center of said bar for attaching the front end of said longitudinal diver support member to said lateral structural bar at the center of said lateral assembly and   (e) levers fixedly attached to said lateral structural bar and extending downward beneath said diver support member for rotating said bar about its axis with respect to said longitudinal diver support member to control the diving angle of said diving plane,   (f) said pivot fitting fits said bar so as to pivot thereon about said lateral axis and   (g) said levers attach to said bar at points on opposite sides of said pivot fitting.   
     
     
       12. A diving plane as in claim 11 wherein, (a) means are provided for attaching a tow line to said pivot fitting and   (b) means are provided for quickly releasing said tow line from said tow line attachment,   (c) said releasing means being easily within the reach of said diver while supported on said longitudinal diver support member.   
     
     
       13. A diving plane as in claim 11 wherein, (a) relatively highly buoyant bodies are attached to said lateral structural bar at several positions therealong so as to distribute the buoyant forces thereon evenly on both sides of said bar to said diving plane, (b) whereby said diving plane is sufficiently buoyant to float at the surface of the water.